Tube-separating machine



Nov.A 16,7, 1926.

J. .1. SPURGEQN TUBE SEPARATING MACHINE C. e D

w n m F h .w my Nr N 1 nu Ymf Nov. 16 1926.

J. J. SPURGEON TUBE SEPARATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ATTORNEY.

J. J. SPURGEON TUBE SEF'ARAING MACHINE Nov. 16 1926.- 1,607,573

Filed Dec. 21. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,.J. J. SPURGEON TUBE SEPARATING MACHINE Nov. 1e ,1926. 1,607,513

Filed D ec'. 21. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTme.

BY 3Q ATTORNEY" the transverse median of the member 4t and the side member 2. The side member 2 is furthermore provided with a lengthwise extending slot 13 below the slot 11, and said slot 13 at its rear registers with the opening 12 and further projects a substantial distance forwzudlAr of the intermediate member 4l.

" l?" lcr'rthwise disncsed TTU ine purand 13 and the opene tly referred to. The side member 1, forwardly with respect the intermediate memberI fr and below the slot 11 therein, is formed with a lengthwise disposed slot le of less length than the slot 13 in the side member 2. rl`he bottom wall of the slot 111 is in alignment with the bottom wall of the slot 13. The function of the slot 11 will be presently referred to.

Arrangedover the portable support and slidably connected therewith is a platform 15 capable of being shifted forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the side members l and 2. The platform 15 is of greater width than the width of the top of the portable support, but is of less length than the length of said support. The. platform 15 projects laterally from the side members 1 and 2 and in proximity to its rear is provided with a pair of depending' supporting legs 1.6 which oppose the outer faces of the side members 1 and 2 and are of a length to extend to the slots 10 in said members. The legs 16 are connected together by an elongated headed bolt 17, having its head abutting the outer face of one of the legs 16 and its threaded end extended from the other leg 16 and carrying a securing nut 18. The bolt 17 e3;- tends through the slots 10 and carries a rolle-r 19 of a length to extend from the inner face of one leg 16 to the inner face of the other leg 16, and said roller travels against the lengthwise walls of the slots 10 when the platform 15 is shifted.

Dependingl from the platform 15, in proximity to the forward end thereof, is a pair of supporting legs 20, which oppose the outer faces of the side members 1 and 2 and are of a length to extend to the slots 11.l

The legs 2O are connected together by an elongated bolt 21 which extends through the slots 11 and has its head abutting against one of the legs 20 and its threaded terminal projected from the other legv 2O and carrying a securing nut 22. Mounted on the bolt 21 is an elongated roller 23, which extends from the inner face of one leg 20 to the inner face of the other leg 20. The roller 23 travels against the lengthwise walls of the slots 11 when the platform is shifted. rlhe forward shift of the platform 15 is arrested by the forward end walls of the slots 10 and 11 and the rearward shift of the platform 15 is arrested by the rear end walls of the slots "'0 and 11.

rllho platform 15 is manually shifted and for such purpose a shifting bar is provided and which at its rear end is bent to 'ounfl the roller 19 as indicated at 25. 'fting bar projects for diy from roller 19 and extends through the openc; 12 and further projects a substantial dis- 'ce from the intermediate frame member is pivotally connected, as at 26, to a arm 27 disposed transversely with respect to the top of the portable support. The lever arm 27 is pivotally mounted, as at 28, in the slot 111 and extends through the slot 13 and projects a substantial distance from the side member 2 to provide for the convenient manual operation thereof. lVhen the lever arm 27 is swung forwardly on its pivot, the platform 15 is shifted in a forward direction with respect to the side members 1 and 2, and when the lever arm 27 is moved rearwardly on its pivot the platform 15 is carried in a like direction.

Arranged overthe platform 15 is a horizontally disposed gear element 29 having its upper face formed with a circular row of bevelled teeth 30, and its outer edge pro` vided throughout with vertically disposed cog teeth 31. rlChe upper face of the platform 15, in proximity to the forward end of the latter, is provided with a boss 32, upon which is mounted the lower end of the hub 33 of the gear element 29. Projecting upwardly from the boss 32 is a bearing post 341, about which the gear element 29 revolves. rlhe post 34e is threaded and carries a retaining` nut 35 for the `gear element 29, and the latter is bodily shifted with the platform 15. Secured to the upper face of the rear end of the platform 15 is an upstanding support 36, providing a bearing for the operating shaft 37 of the machine. rlhe shaft 37 is journalled in the top of the support 36, projects forwardly therefrom and carries on its forward end a bevelled pinion 38, which meshes with the bevelled teeth 30 for the purpose of driving` the gear element 29. To prevent the rearward shift of the operating shaft 37, it is provided with a collar 39 which abuts against the forward face of the support 36.

The gear element 29 is of such diameter as to project an appropriate distance forwardly of the platform 15. The operating shaft 37 is connected in any suitable manner to a prime mover therefor, such as a tractor, and the connection may be a universal one to permit of positioning' the portable support to allow a diversity of positions with relation to the tubing to be acted upon.

The machine further includes a holder element for the driven die carrier, and said element is formed of a front and a rear section, which are pivotally connected at one side and adapted to be detachably connected together at their other sides. ril`he rear section comprises a semi-circular body portion 40, having its top edge formed with a rib 4l which is flush with the inner face oi' said body portion. The body portion 40 is cut away, as at 42, to provide a shoulder 43, and said body portion is furthermore formed with a socket 44 opening at the shoulder 43. A rib 45 is -formed on the bottom edge ot the body portion 40. Formed integral with the body portion 40, at the lower part thereof and projecting rearwardly therefrom, is a connecting arm 46, having inwardly extending end portions 47 which pro-ject towards and are Yformed integral with the outer face of the body portion 40. The inwardly ei:- tending portions ot the connecting arm 46 space the major portion of the latterfrom and rearwardly oi' the body portion 40. ri`he front section of the holder element consists of a semi-circular body portion 48 having its top and bottom edges provided with ribs 49, 50 respectively. The body portion 48 is cut away to pro-vide a clearance for the shoulder 43 and further to 'form what may be termed an extension 51, which when the sections are secured together, has its bottom edge seating on the shoulder 43. The body portion 48 is furthermore provided with a vertically disposed socket 52 which when the sections are swung to abutting position is arranged in vertical alignment. with the socket 44.

A slot 53 is formed in the body portion 4S which opens-into the socket 52 and also at the outer 'face of the body portion 48. Arranged within the socket 52 is a spring controlled locking pin 54 adapted to engage in the socket 44 :tor detachably connecting the sections together. Carried by the locking pin 54 and projecting outwardly through the slot 53 is a headed stud 55, which extends in the path of the nose 56 ot a releasing member 57. '.lhe body portion 48 is formed with a tapered opening 58 disposed at right angles with respect to the socket 52. The body portion 48 is Jurthermore provided on its outer tace with an integral boss 59 formed with an opening 60, which communicates with the opening 58. Extending through the opening G0 and into the opening 58 is the stem Gl of a handle member 62. rlhe inner end of the stem 6l carriesra securing nut 63 which abuts against one of the walls ot the opening 58 and "further against the inner face of the'boss 59. lllhe releasing member 57 is carried by the stem (30 and in connection with the nut 63 couples the handle member to the iront section orf the holder element. The body portion 48 is furthermore provided with a pair of spaced aperturedears G4, between which extends one end of the arm 46, and the said ears 64 are pivotally connected to the arm 4G by a pivot member G5.

lffhen the 'iront section of the holder element is swung to a position whereby the eX- tension 5l Vwill be arranged in superposed relation with respect to the shoulder 43, the pin 54 can engage in the socket 44 and detachabl connect the sections together. The pin 54 will move to engage in the socket 44, due to the action of its controlling spring, when the nose 56 of the releasing member 57 is swung clear oi the pin 55. V7 hen it is desired to release the sections oi the holding element, the handle member 62 is revolved to the right', whereby the nose 55 will engage the stud or lug and shift the pin 54 upwardly to clear the shoulder 48 and then the iront section can be swung outwardly from the rear section or holding element.

[i supporting bracket is provided for the holder element and which coacts with the connecting or coupling arm 46. The supporting bracket comprises a bar 66 formed at its rear end with a depending arm 67, which extends down through the opening 8 in the enlargement 7 of the iront member 5 ot the 'top oi the supporting iframe. The arm 67 is of a length greater than the height of the enlargement 7 and depends below the latter. Vlhe arm 67 has its lower terminal portion threaded and engaging therewith is a securing nut 68, which when in position -abuts against the bottom edge ot the enlargement 7, under such conditions .detachably connecting the supporting bracket toV the 'liront et the portable support. Depending from the forward end of the bar 66, is a pair of spaced arms 69, 70, having aremovable coupling plate 7l detachably connected to the lower ends thereof. The bar G6, in connection with the arms 69, 70 and plate 7l provides a vertically disposed slot 72 through which extends the connecting or coupling arm 4G, whereby the holder element is .connected with the supporting brochet and retained therein by the plate 71.

rlhe driven gripper carrier, which is revolubly mounted. in and supported by the holder element, consists oi a pair oi' oppositely disposed semi-cylindrical sections, and as each or the sections is oi; the same construction but one will be described, as the description oi one will apply to the other.

The said sections are generally referred to by the reference characters 72, 73 and each of which consists ot a semi-circular stem 74 and a semi-circular head 7 The inner face ot the stem 74 is Hush with the inner Jface of the head 7 5, and the latter is of materially greater thickness than the thickness of the stem 74, whereby the outer 'face of the head 75 will be positioned a substantial distance 'from 'the o te iace oi the stem 74. rlhe inner face ot the head 75 is formed with a liti horizontally disposed groove 76, which eX- tends from one side to the other thereof, is ot appropriate width and positioned centrally oit the inner iface ot the head 75. rlhe groove 76 is separated lengthwise by a rib 76 integr l centrally with the inner or vertical wall said groove. The vertical face 76 of the rib 76 is positioned inwardly with respect to the inner ,tace ot the head 75. The vertical tace 76 ot' the rib 76 is eccentrically disposed with respect to the inner wall ot the groove 76 and also with respect to the inner tace of the head 75 and constitutes a cam surface. llhe vertical tace 76 ot the rib 76 is of such curvature to form at each end what may be termed a riser 77 and an intemediate lower part 77', see Figure 8. rlhe rib 76 is of the same length as the length ol' the groove 76. rEhe rib 76 provides means for shitting a gripper member, to be presently referred to, in clamping position with respect to a tube to provide for the latter to revolve with the carrier for the purpose of separating or unscrewing the same. The head 75 has its outer tace provided throughout with cog teeth 78, which extend `from the upper to the lower end of the head 75, and the latter is furthermore Jformed with a socket 78 which extends through the rib 76 and opens at the outer tace ofthe latter. The wall ot the socket 78 is threaded. The bottom edge or the head 75 is formed with a groove 79 tor the reception of a rib at the top of one of the sections of the holder element.

The stem 74 at the bottom thereof has projecting from its outer tace an angle-shaped flange 80, which provides a groove 8l Yfor the reception ot a rib at the bottom ot a section of the holder element.

lWhen the sections 72 and 7 3 of the gripper carrier are arranged in active position, a circular guide passage 82 is provided for the reception of the tubing, and urthe when said sections are in active position the heads 75 thereof provide a cog gear driven from the gear element 29 for the purpose of bodily adjusting the gripper members, to be presently referred to, to clamp the tubing, and further for bodily revolving the tubing `when clamped therewith by the gripper lmembers, tor the purpose et separating or unscrewing the tubing.

A. pair ot gripper members is employed and each is mounted in a groove 76 and each oi which is of a construction to straddle a rib 76. rlhe gripper members are indicated generally by the reference characters 83, 84 and each ot which is semi-circular in contour and consists ot a body portion 85 or less length than the length o1 a groove 7 6, having its working tace flush with the inner tace ot the head 7 5 and its rear tace formed centrally with a lengthwise extending groove 86 tor the reception of the rib 76', and

neozve against the base of the groove 86 operates the cam face 76 ot the rib 76 for the purpose or' forcing the gripper member in clamping engagement with respect to the tubing. The working :tace o't the body portion 85 is formed with a recess 87 of substantial width and length and communicating with the recess 87, through the inner wall of the latter, is an oval-shaped slot 88 of less length and of less width than the length and width of the recess 87. The recess 87, in connection with the opening 88, provides means to permit ol bodily shitting the gripper member to clamping position with respect to the tubing. Extending through the body portion 85 and threadedly engaging with the wall of the socket 78 is a headed retaining screw 89 having its head positioned within the recess 87 and its shank extending through the opening 88, and said screw in connection with the recess 87 and opening 88 provides means for slidn ably connecting the gripper member to the head 7 5 or a section ot the carrier.

`When the driven gripper carrier is lmount` ed in the holder element, the sections ot the latter surround the stem 74 of the carrier and the holder element is interposed between the head 75 and the lianges 8O of the carrier element. lli/Then the carrier, with the gripper member secured therein, is mounted in the holder element, the carrier can be revolved through the medium oi the gear element 29, and when it is desired to revolve the carrier, the platform l5 is shifted torwardly until the cog teeth 3l of the gear element 29 engage with the cog teeth 78 ot the head 75. After the gear element has been shifted to mesh with the carrier, the gear element is then revolved through the medium of the pinion 38 and the action of the teeth 8l ot' the gear element 29 with respect to the teeth 78 ot the heads 75 will provide for the revolving ot the carrier, causing thereby the gripper members to clamp the tubing and revolve the latter in a direction to separate or unscrew the same.

By removing the nuts 18, 22, and 68, the machine can be divided into three parts so it can be easily handled by two persons. The machine canbe used and operated on a rig tloor by one man, whereas it now requires three men to do the same work.

Although the machine is designed primarily for disconnecting tubes by unscrewing the same, yet it is to be understood that it can be employed for screwing tube sections together. `When operating to disconnect a tube or tube section, the connecting arm li6 worl'zs up to the top ot the slot 72, but when connecting a pair of tubes or tube sections together it is initially set at the top of the slot 72 and works downwardly.

t is thought the many advantages of a tube separating machine, in accordance with this invention and for 'the purpose set forth can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the inventiony is as illustrated anddescribed, yet it is tok be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Vhat I claim is 1. A tube separating machine comprising a driven gear element, a shiftable supporting platform therefor, driving means for said element mounted on the platform, a holder arranged forwardly of the platform, a carrier revolubly mounted in the holder and provided with a. passage for the reception of the tube to be separated, gripper mem* bers arranged within and shiftable by the carrier for clamping the tube, and said carrier and gear element having teeth for interengagement for operating the carrier when said platform is shifted to provide for the interengagement of such teeth during the operation of the gear element whereby the carrier during the revolving thereof will provide for the activity of the gripper members to carry the tube therewith and separate the same.

2. A Jtube separating machine comprising a driven gear element, a shiftable supporting platform therefor', driving means for said element mounted on the platform, a heide-r arranged forwardly of the platform, a carrier revolubly mounted in the holder and provided with a passage for the reception of the tube to be separated, gripper members arranged within and shiftable by the carrier for clamping the tube, said carrier and gear element having teeth for interengagement for operating the carrier when said platform is shifted to provide for the interengagement of such teeth during the operation of the gear element whereby the carrier during the revolving thereof will provide for the activity of the gripper members to carry the tube therewith and separate the same, a support, and means for slidably connecting the platform thereto.

3. A. tube separating machine comprising a driven gear element, a shiftable supporting platform therefor, driving means for said element mounted on the platform, a holder arranged forwardly of the platform, a carrier revolubly mounted in the holder and provided with. a passage for the reception of the tube to be separated, gripper members arranged within and shiftable by the carrier for clamping the tube, said carrier and gear element having teeth for interengagement for operating the carrier when said platform is shifted to provide for the interengagement of such teeth during the operation of the gear element whereby the carrier during the revolving thereof will rovide for the activity of the gripper members to carry the tube therewith and separate the same,'a support, means for slidably connecting the platform thereto, and means forv rier revolubly mounted in the holder and` provided with a passage for the reception of the tube to be separated, gripper members mounted in and shiftable to active positionto clamp the tubeA on the revolving of the carrier, said carrier and gear element having teeth for interengagement to provide for the operation of the carrier when the platform is shifted to cause the intermeshing of said teeth during the operation of the gear element, and means for shifting said platform. A

5. A tube separating machine comprising a driven gear element, a shiftable supporting platform therefor, driving means for said element mounted on the platform, a holder arranged forwardly of the platform, a carc rier revolubly mounted in the holder and provided with a passage for the reception of the tube to be separated, gripper members mounted in and shiftable to active position to clamp the tube on the revolving of the carrier, said carrier and gear element having teeth for interengagement to provide for the operation of the carrier when the platform is shifted to cause the intermeshing of said teet during the operation of the gear element, means for shiftingvsaid platform, a support, means for slidably connecting the platf rm thereto, and means connected tothe support and to the platform for shiftingthe latter.

6. A. tube separating machine comprising gripper members, a carrier formed of Va` pair of complemcntal sections each havingr its inner face provided with means for the reception and shifting of a gripper member to clamping position with respect to the tube to be separated to provide for the bodily revolving of the tube with the carrier to separate the same, a sectional holder for removably and revolubly supporting the carrier sections in abutting, active position with respect to the tube to be separated, a bodily shift-able driving means for the carrier, and

said driving means and carrier having coact-V ing elements to provide for the revolving-of the carrier when said driving means is shifted to cause the coacting of said elements.

7. A tube separating machine comprising gripper members, a carrier formed of a pair of complemental sections each having its inner face provided"l with means for the reception and shifting of a gripper member to clamping position with respect to the tube to be separated to provide for the bodily revolving of the tube with the carllo rier to separate the same, a sectional holder for removably and revolubly supporting the carrier sections in abutting, active position with respect to the tube to be separated, a bodily shiftable Vdriving means for the carrier, said driving means and carrier having coacting elements to provide for the revolving of the carrier when said driving means is shifted to cause the coacting of said elements, a support, and means for slidably connecting said driving means to the support.

8. A tube separating machine comprising gripper members, a carrier formed of a pair of complemental sections each having its inner face provided with means for the reception and shifting of a gripper member to clamping position with respect to the tube to be separated to provide for the bodily revolving of the tube with the carrier to separate the same, a sectional holder for removably and revolnbly supporting the carrier sectionsin abutting, active position with respect to the tube to be separated, a bodily shiftable driving means for the carrier, said driving means and carrier having coacting elements to provide for the revolving of the carrier when said driving means is shifted to cause the coacting of said elements, a support, means for slidably connecting said driving means to the support, and means connected to the support and to the driving means to provide for the bodily shifting of the latter.

9. A tube separating machine comprising a carrier provided with a passage for the reception of the tube to be separated and further provided with means for clamping the tube therewith to ,provide for the bodily revolving thereof with the carrier to cause the separation of the tube, a holder for removably and revolubly supporting said carrier, a shiftable carrier driving mechanism normally free of engagement with the carrier, said carrier and mechanism having coacting means for revolving the carrier when said mechanism is shifted to opera tively engage the carrier, and means for bodily shifting said mechanism to and from the carrier.

l0. A tube separating machine comprising a carrier provided with a passage for the reception of the tube to be separated and further provided with means for clamping the tube therewith to provide for the bodily revolving thereof with "the carrier to causev the separation of the tube, a holder for removably and revolubly supporting said carrier, a shiftable carrier driving mechanism normally free of engagement with the carrier, said carrier and mechanism having coacting means for revolving the carrier when said mechanism is shifted to operatively engage the carrier, means for bodily shifting said mechanism to and from the carrier, and means mounted on the holder for releasably latching it to the carrier. Y

1l. A tube separating machine comprising a carrier provided with a passage for the reception of the tube to be separated and further provided with means for clamping the tube therewith to provide for theA bodily revolving thereof with the carrier to cause the separation of the tube, a holder for removably and revolubly supporting said carrier, a shiftable carrier driving mechanism normally free of engagement with the cal'- rier, said carrier and -mechanism having coacting means for revolving the carrier when said mechanism is shifted to operatively engage the carrier, means for bodily shifting said mechanism to and from the carrier, a support for said mechanism, means for slidably connecting'said mechanism to the support, and means connected to the support and said mechanism for shifting the latter to and from the carrier.

l2. A tube separat-ing machine comprising gripper members, a sectional revoluble carrier formed with a stem and a pinion at one end of the stem, said carrier further formed with a passage for the reception of the tube to be separated and means to receive and operate a pair of gripper members to clamp the tube to the carrier during the revolving of the latter to separate the tube, a sectional holder detachably connected to said stem and revolubly supporting the carrier, a gear element, a platform for bodily shifting the gear element to mesh with the pinion to revolve the carrier during the operation of the gear element, driving means for said gear element mounted on the platform and bodily shiftable therewith, supporting means common to the platform and holder, and means connected with said supporting means and platform for shifting the latter.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature hereto.

JESSE J. SPURGEON. 

